Would you rather have Matt Schaub or Philip Rivers? - Page 3

**The Franchise** · 02-11-2010, 12:36 AM

Draft 2010: The Quarterbacks

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/fea...rticleid=34736

1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

Height/Weight: 6'4/223
College Experience: Fourth-year junior
Projected 40: 4.69
Comparison: Matt Schaub
2008* Stats: 328-of-483 (67.9%) for 4,720 yds (9.8 YPA), 50 TD/8 INT; 5 RUS TDs

Positives: There wasn't a more dominant QB in the nation over the course of Bradford's freshman and sophomore seasons. During that span, the Academic All American completed 68.6% of his attempts for 86 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. Bradford left school as the NCAA's all-time leader in pass efficiency, demonstrating incredible accuracy and aggressiveness throwing downfield. Though Oklahoma's offense became more spread oriented late in Bradford's career, it still incorporated plenty of pro-style concepts and required the 2008 Heisman winner to make deep throws while taking his fair share of snaps from center and utilizing play action. When 100%, Bradford demonstrated above-average arm strength. Often executing precise throws on the move, the once-decorated high school basketball player is highly athletic.

Negatives: Bradford's 2009 season ended after three games when he aggravated an AC joint shoulder sprain originally suffered in the Sooners' opener. Dr. James Andrews performed a reconstruction on October 28, afterwards saying the surgery went "just as we expected." Despite his 6'4/223-pound listing at Oklahoma, Bradford often looked to be playing in the 200-pound range and could afford to bulk up. Bradford's passing mechanics were flawless for the Sooners' mostly-spread attack, but will change in a pro-style system. He was surrounded by countless high draft picks, including 2008 second-rounder Malcolm Kelly, 2009 third-rounder Juaquin Iglesias, likely 2010 first-round tight end Jermaine Gresham, and an annually star-studded Sooners offensive line.

Outlook: He's throwing three days a week and says his recovery is ahead of schedule. Bradford's calling cards are his accuracy, athleticism and smarts, making him an ideal fit for a West Coast offense. Early workout reports are good, but Bradford's showing at his March Pro Day will have a huge impact on his stock. Should he impress, Bradford could emerge as the favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall by St. Louis. Bradford won't get by the Bills at No. 9.

2. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame

Height/Weight: 6'3/223
College Experience: Third-year junior
Projected 40: 4.91
Comparison: Philip Rivers
2009 Stats: 289-of-425 (68.0%) for 3,722 yds (8.8 YPA), 28 TD/4 INT

Positives: A three-year starter, Clausen's improvement between 2007 and 2009 was as dramatic as any quarterback at any stage of football during that span, indicating his trajectory is still pointing skyward. Clausen ranked third nationally in pass efficiency last season (only Tim Tebow and Boise State's Kellen Moore made fewer mistakes), improving his TD-to-INT ratio and completion rate to near-perfect levels. This was all despite Clausen playing nearly the entire year through torn toe ligaments, a poor offensive line, and star wideout Michael Floyd's six-week absence due to a broken collarbone. Clausen puts ideal zip on intermediate passes and benefited from Charlie Weis' pro-style offense, which required him to make NFL-style throws. Clausen's competitiveness and toughness are reminiscent of Philip Rivers', although they can be mistaken for overt cockiness and/or egotism.

Negatives: Clausen typically delivers the ball quickly, but tends to reel back his right arm abnormally far on deep passes. It's possible that elbow surgery prior to his freshman year cost Clausen some arm power, forcing him to compensate. On some downfield routes, Weis teaches his quarterback to essentially throw the ball up for grabs, which Clausen got away with because Floyd and Golden Tate were perhaps Division I's best receiver tandem last year. There have been rumors that Clausen was not a good teammate or leader. His career record was 16-18.

Outlook: Despite his pro-style background, Clausen has plenty of developing to do. He could've used another year in college, but that wasn't an option after Weis' firing. Like Bradford, Clausen will miss the Combine after having toe surgery early last month. When healthy, Clausen projects well into virtually any scheme because of his quality arm and above-average accuracy. If Buffalo passes on Clausen at No. 9, a team is sure to snare him in the mid- to late-first round.

Chiefnj2 · 02-11-2010, 01:43 PM

Bradford throws a beautiful ball. Whether he can handle the NFL beatings and whether he can run an offense, who knows.

Chiefnj2 · 02-12-2010, 11:34 AM

I recently read that Clausen's toe injury is pretty serious and that the same injury has ended the careers of other players.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 02-12-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penchief

What I saw of Bradford when Oklahoma lost the National Championship game to Florida last year left me very impressed with his downfield accuracy. He seemed to be throwing twenty and thirty yards downfield with zip and laser-like accuracy. Looked like he could make all the throws to me. And he was threading the needle even when his receivers weren't catching the pass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Shut it and stop with these facts and accuate observations. We on this board must be anti- Bradford, so we like to say he was only good because he just threw swing passes or had the greatest offensive line and receivers in NCAA history that were open by 15 yards every time.

Actually I'm on OU guy, but I'll tell you straight up if a player is all hype or can actually play. Bradford is an accurate QB downfield as you will find and will stand in the pocket and take a pop. He does have some durability issues, but the shots he has taken are pretty good shots. Brett Favre he is not, but Brodie Croyle he is not either.

I never said he wasn't accurate, I only said that he has average arm strength.

I'll be curious to see how he does in the NFL throwing 15-18 yard outs. He had a strong enough arm in college to get by, but I'm not sure he does in the pros.

I stand by my claim that he's best suited for a WCO. I'm not saying he HAS to play in a WCO to be successful, but that's what would be best for his talents, IMO.

Whoever drafts him better have a starting option in place, because it's going to take a year or two for him to learn how to run a pro-style offense, make pre-snap reads, etc.

keg in kc · 02-12-2010, 03:34 PM

Yes, I would rather have Matt Schaub or Philip Rivers.

**DeezNutz** · 02-12-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Bradford is an accurate QB downfield as you will find and will stand in the pocket and take a pop. He does have some durability issues, but the shots he has taken are pretty good shots. Brett Favre he is not, but Brodie Croyle he is not either.

The hit he took against BYU can't knock him out of the game, let alone the season (essentially).

He's too small, physically, to survive in the NFL. Unless I'm 100 percent confident he can add significant muscle mass, Bradford would be a wasted pick.

BigCatDaddy · 02-12-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The hit he took against BYU can't knock him out of the game, let alone the season (essentially).

He's too small, physically, to survive in the NFL. Unless I'm 100 percent confident he can add significant muscle mass, Bradford would be a wasted pick.

When you take a hit where you land on a shoulder with a linebacker on top of you, it's not one many QB's would survive. He isn't Brett Favre, but that wasn't a hang nail he had.

RustShack · 02-12-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Yes, I would rather have Matt Schaub or Philip Rivers.

Physically I would much rather have Rivers than Schuab. Rivers problem is his head, and Clausen doesn't have that problem.

milkman · 02-13-2010, 09:55 AM

I think the comparison to Schaub is off.

He looks more like Trent Green than Schaub.

**Saul Good** · 02-13-2010, 12:11 PM

It just dawned on me that Washington should draft Bradford. I would love to see a Native American playing QB for the Redskins.

Direckshun · 02-13-2010, 04:09 PM

Washington would take Clausen in a heartbeat.

A headcase QB with great physical skills from an iffy college team? Shanahan's taken that guy time and time again.

Ralphy Boy · 02-13-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

I think the comparison to Schaub is off.

He looks more like Trent Green than Schaub.

I thought the exact same thing the other day.

ILChief · 02-14-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Washington would take Clausen in a heartbeat.

A headcase QB with great physical skills from an iffy college team? Shanahan's taken that guy time and time again.

What makes Clausen a headcase? I've never heard anything about him other than he got caught drinking at a college party. Iffy college team? I'll give you there defense was god awful but ND's offense was quite good in a pro style system.

Saccopoo · 02-14-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILChief

What makes Clausen a headcase? I've never heard anything about him other than he got caught drinking at a college party. Iffy college team? I'll give you there defense was god awful but ND's offense was quite good in a pro style system.

He also got into a fight outside a bar this past year.

Here's an interesting take on Clausen from a ND fans perspective:

Quote:

I grew up in Ojai, California, just up the highway from Clausen's high school alma mater of Oaks Christian in Thousand Oaks, California.

Clausen had a storied high-school career and that's putting it lightly.

He was 42-0 as a prep starter. He led Oaks Christian to their first-ever state title. He threw for 48 touchdowns his senior year. He was USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year.

He was the Golden Boy that everyone wanted.

But ask any parent, student, player, or coach who played with or against Jimmy Clausen, and you'll probably hear the same thing.

Arrogant jerk.

His reputation was awful at any school he played against. He quite simply thought he was better than everyone else and showed it.

He was the beneficiary of a great offensive line and a superb running back named Marc Taylor, who was also rated USA Today's top schoolboy running back.

There were entire games he never got pressured.

Then, there were the whispers that he was just like his father—a Todd Marinovich-fatherly-type who lived and breathed for his son's football career. He had Jimmy under the tutelage of Steve Clarkston, the celebrated "Quarterback Whisperer"—a private coach for parents who can afford to give their kid the best that money can buy.

He was a true freshman starter at Notre Dame.

His first two seasons at Notre Dame were, in truth, fairly mediocre. The Notre Dame teams were awful.

His junior season he finally delivered on his earlier promise. He finished the season with 3,722 yards passing, a 68.8 percent completion rate, 161.42 passer rating, 28 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Notre Dame finished 7-6 his final year.

Look closer at a lot of his games. He made an amazing amount of miscues to lose games in the final minutes, as opposed to say, Joe Montana, who seemed to shine in the fourth quarter.

His record was a pedestrian 16-18 as a starter.

I don't think that was an accident.

From before he stepped onto the field, he rubbed many people, and teammates, the wrong way, from his mega press conference as a high school senior, to his arriving at Notre Dame in a stretch Hummer, to his reputation as a cocky and brash jock.

I'm not sure that inspires anyone within a locker room.

Even his post-game interviews seemed to suggest that it was everyone else who was responsible for Notre Dame's losing ways.

After a close loss to Navy, he was quoted as saying, "Well, I did everything I had to do to win the game."

In other words, my teammates are a bunch of losers.

Ask anyone in San Diego and they'll probably say that Ryan Leaf had all the ability in the world.

It was his attitude that did him in.

Same thing with Jimmy Clausen.

If I were the General Manager of an NFL team, I would avoid Jimmy Clausen like the plague. Never mind a first-round pick; I wouldn't waste a seventh-rounder on the guy.

In fact, I'd make sure he was as far away from my locker room as humanly possible.

And then there is the picture:

I had no idea that he liked to vacation in the Greek Mediterranean.

ILChief · 02-14-2010, 08:28 PM

by "fight outside a bar" do you mean getting sucker punched by an idiot fan?

ChiefsCountry · 02-14-2010, 11:14 PM

If Sacaofshit doesn't like Clausen, that vaults him into legit conversation that we should draft him.

02-11-2010, 12:36 AM
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2055047	Would you rather have Matt Schaub or Philip Rivers? Draft 2010: The Quarterbacks http://www.rotoworld.com/content/fea...rticleid=34736 1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Height/Weight: 6'4/223 College Experience: Fourth-year junior Projected 40: 4.69 Comparison: Matt Schaub 2008* Stats: 328-of-483 (67.9%) for 4,720 yds (9.8 YPA), 50 TD/8 INT; 5 RUS TDs Positives: There wasn't a more dominant QB in the nation over the course of Bradford's freshman and sophomore seasons. During that span, the Academic All American completed 68.6% of his attempts for 86 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. Bradford left school as the NCAA's all-time leader in pass efficiency, demonstrating incredible accuracy and aggressiveness throwing downfield. Though Oklahoma's offense became more spread oriented late in Bradford's career, it still incorporated plenty of pro-style concepts and required the 2008 Heisman winner to make deep throws while taking his fair share of snaps from center and utilizing play action. When 100%, Bradford demonstrated above-average arm strength. Often executing precise throws on the move, the once-decorated high school basketball player is highly athletic. Negatives: Bradford's 2009 season ended after three games when he aggravated an AC joint shoulder sprain originally suffered in the Sooners' opener. Dr. James Andrews performed a reconstruction on October 28, afterwards saying the surgery went "just as we expected." Despite his 6'4/223-pound listing at Oklahoma, Bradford often looked to be playing in the 200-pound range and could afford to bulk up. Bradford's passing mechanics were flawless for the Sooners' mostly-spread attack, but will change in a pro-style system. He was surrounded by countless high draft picks, including 2008 second-rounder Malcolm Kelly, 2009 third-rounder Juaquin Iglesias, likely 2010 first-round tight end Jermaine Gresham, and an annually star-studded Sooners offensive line. Outlook: He's throwing three days a week and says his recovery is ahead of schedule. Bradford's calling cards are his accuracy, athleticism and smarts, making him an ideal fit for a West Coast offense. Early workout reports are good, but Bradford's showing at his March Pro Day will have a huge impact on his stock. Should he impress, Bradford could emerge as the favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall by St. Louis. Bradford won't get by the Bills at No. 9. 2. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Height/Weight: 6'3/223 College Experience: Third-year junior Projected 40: 4.91 Comparison: Philip Rivers 2009 Stats: 289-of-425 (68.0%) for 3,722 yds (8.8 YPA), 28 TD/4 INT Positives: A three-year starter, Clausen's improvement between 2007 and 2009 was as dramatic as any quarterback at any stage of football during that span, indicating his trajectory is still pointing skyward. Clausen ranked third nationally in pass efficiency last season (only Tim Tebow and Boise State's Kellen Moore made fewer mistakes), improving his TD-to-INT ratio and completion rate to near-perfect levels. This was all despite Clausen playing nearly the entire year through torn toe ligaments, a poor offensive line, and star wideout Michael Floyd's six-week absence due to a broken collarbone. Clausen puts ideal zip on intermediate passes and benefited from Charlie Weis' pro-style offense, which required him to make NFL-style throws. Clausen's competitiveness and toughness are reminiscent of Philip Rivers', although they can be mistaken for overt cockiness and/or egotism. Negatives: Clausen typically delivers the ball quickly, but tends to reel back his right arm abnormally far on deep passes. It's possible that elbow surgery prior to his freshman year cost Clausen some arm power, forcing him to compensate. On some downfield routes, Weis teaches his quarterback to essentially throw the ball up for grabs, which Clausen got away with because Floyd and Golden Tate were perhaps Division I's best receiver tandem last year. There have been rumors that Clausen was not a good teammate or leader. His career record was 16-18. Outlook: Despite his pro-style background, Clausen has plenty of developing to do. He could've used another year in college, but that wasn't an option after Weis' firing. Like Bradford, Clausen will miss the Combine after having toe surgery early last month. When healthy, Clausen projects well into virtually any scheme because of his quality arm and above-average accuracy. If Buffalo passes on Clausen at No. 9, a team is sure to snare him in the mid- to late-first round.
Posts: 92,316

02-11-2010, 01:43 PM	#31
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	Bradford throws a beautiful ball. Whether he can handle the NFL beatings and whether he can run an offense, who knows. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,541

02-12-2010, 11:34 AM	#32
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	I recently read that Clausen's toe injury is pretty serious and that the same injury has ended the careers of other players. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,541

02-12-2010, 03:34 PM	#34
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Yes, I would rather have Matt Schaub or Philip Rivers.
Posts: 58,682

02-13-2010, 09:55 AM	#38
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	I think the comparison to Schaub is off. He looks more like Trent Green than Schaub. __________________
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02-13-2010, 12:11 PM	#39
Saul Good Quit your bullshit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bored of winning Casino cash: $10052799	It just dawned on me that Washington should draft Bradford. I would love to see a Native American playing QB for the Redskins. __________________ Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
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02-13-2010, 04:09 PM	#40
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $2033447	Washington would take Clausen in a heartbeat. A headcase QB with great physical skills from an iffy college team? Shanahan's taken that guy time and time again.
Posts: 59,693

02-14-2010, 08:28 PM	#44
ILChief MVP Join Date: Jan 2001 Casino cash: $7764831	by "fight outside a bar" do you mean getting sucker punched by an idiot fan?
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02-14-2010, 11:14 PM	#45
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $-1641248	If Sacaofshit doesn't like Clausen, that vaults him into legit conversation that we should draft him.
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